Overview
Having lived in Manhattan for almost 3 years, I have found that I have become quite the restaurant snob and demanded high standards of excellence from restaurants all over the country. Galileo, a quaint and elegant Italian getaway, has matched that excellence and pleasantly surprised me. I moved to Washington DC a short while ago, and even a shorter while ago made the trip to Galileo in downtown DC (21st between L and M Streets - near Dupont Circle) at the recommendation of my friend, Zagat. What I found was an attentive staff, excellent food, a friendly ambience, and ahem... a big check. Was the price worth the experience? Yes.

Dress Attire
I wore a button down J. Crew shirt with nice khakis and that was very sufficient. Many there were dressed in suits, but I'm guessing that they were coming straight from work.

Parking
Fortunately parking in downtown DC is nothing like parking in Manhattan. Galileo offers a valet service right next to the restaurant and there is a surprising abundance of street and garage parking in the vicinity. We found parking with ease and set off for our 7:30PM reservation.

Ambience
Upon walking into Galileo, we were greeted by a friendly hostess who confirmed our reservation and directed us to the coat check. The open dining room was divided in 2 with architecture reminding me of a little rural Italian village. The walls were graced with paintings portraying the sights, sounds and smells of Northern Italy. The spacious room was adequately lit with servers bustling about and I immediately saw that the clientele there ranged from casual business groups to couples. The noise level was a step above a hush, but definitely ideal for an engaging conversation. The kitchen was set in the back of the restaurant and the tables of all sizes and shapes graced the red carpet. The chairs were very comfortable with the dark oak backs cushioned by a plush cloth. The silverware and settings were all immaculate. In the background, a soft what-sounded-to-be-like Italian opera instrumental was playing. It set up an environment that was suited for a quiet night of dinner conversation or a dinner to discuss the plans for the next merger.

Service
The well-dressed staff (bow-ties and slacks) was very polite and attentive to every need, whether it be a glass of water, explaining the differences between the Merlots, or just checking up on the status of our meal. The restaurant was also very accommodating. My guest had asked for something to be prepared that was not on the menu and they gladly obliged. My guest and I were also serviced by 2-3 of the staff so it wasn’t just one server per table. It was a group effort on their part. I find this to be more effective as whoever is free can help the customer immediately.
I also found that although the staff was attentive – they were not too attentive, which is important. They knew just the right time to fill the water, ask us if we needed anything, and serve the dinner. We waited about 8 minutes between the salad and the main course – perfect timing.

Food (quality and presentation)
We started of with a couple of glasses of the Stone Quarry Merlot. It had a sweet and heavier flavor than most red wines (which I like). We then ordered two green salads in a Balsamic vinaigrette. The salads were beautifully presented in round ceramic salad plates, with a rind of celery tying together the greens of the salad into a round flower shape and the dressing was drizzled over the top. The vegetables were fresh and crispy and the vinaigrette was seasoned to perfection. As the main course, I ordered the lobster linguini and my guest specially asked for penne vodka (which – as I mentioned above, they gladly prepared even though it wasn’t listed on the menu). The food was exquisite – owner Roberto Donna knows how to pick his chefs. The linguini was served in a deep ceramic bowl with a spicy and perfectly seasoned marina sauce already tossed in. The lobster was presented on top of the linguini with the tail already removed and tossed in with the linguini. The remainder was buttered and seasoned in the shell for the lobster fork to remove. My guest ordered the penne vodka and this was specially prepared in a cream sauce with basil that was heaven to the lips.
For dessert, we just had to try the tiramisu being that we were practically in Italy and we also ordered the apple crisp to expand some of our flavors. The tiramisu was soaked in rum, rich and delicious. The cake was light and spongy and the custard was mouth watering. The apple crisp was served under a scoop of vanilla ice cream with the cinnamon crisp separating the hot apples from the cool ice cream providing a nice contrast in taste.

Price
So all of this wonderful ambience, food and service does not come without a cost and be ready to pay for the experience. Our check ran upwards of $130 (not including tip) and fortunately American Express IS accepted. Although a hefty price tag for dinner, the experience of Galileo made it well worth the money.

Recommendation
Although I wouldn’t come to Galileo for a casual dinner out on a weeknight, this restaurant is an excellent choice to celebrate an occasion with someone special or just to take some clients out for excellent, elegant food (where the corporate CC picks up the tab). Galileo blends service, décor and food to really bring the tastes of Italy to Washington DC.




Recommended: Yes

Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations penne vodka, lobster linguini, tiramisu, apple crisp
Best Suited For: Romantic Evening